Tillerson Says He Does Not Oppose TPP Free Trade Agreement

US Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday in his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee he does not oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, but shares some of President-elect Donald Trump’s concerns on whether it serves the country’s interests.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Trump promised in his contract with voters to withdraw the United States from the TPP agreement within his first 100 days in office in order to protect US workers.

"I do not oppose TPP," Tillerson stated. "I share some of his [Trump’s] views regarding whether the agreement that was negotiated serves all of America’s interests best."

Tillerson noted that he also believed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) needs to be revisited because the global trading environment has changed since the deal entered into force in 1994.

The TPP seeks to remove barriers to trade among 12 states, which together account for 40 percent of the world's economy: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States.

The Obama administration suffered a significant setback by failing to get Congress to ratify the TPP agreement before the end of his term in office.

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